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The Glow Of The Globe

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EAVE it to the Discovery Channel to light up your world. The Discovery City Lights Globe revolves on its axis to show the world in the round. Turn the lights out and it glows. It will brighten the dark recesses of your home or office. It will serve as an exciting centerpiece instead of candles on your dining table. Be assured of nice conversation as you light up your world.

For Savvy Sojourners

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AGELLAN’S continues to come up with travel gear that will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Here are seven items that we found essential on our journeys. See them all at www.magellans.com.

Men’s Sac-in-Tosh is a raincoat that’s completely waterproof. Has front zipper, open hand-warmer pockets, and a button-off hood. Mesh panel on the back affords ventilation in humid weather. Lightweight, made of durable nylon, it folds into its pockets for simple packing. Get it in Slate Blue or Taupe, at $45.

Packable Rain Hat is waterproof, ventilated and made of lightweight polyester. An adjustable cord keeps the hat secure on windy days. Carry it on your belt of daypack. $19.50.

Non-Iron Shirt that you can wash and dry during your travels. With this two-ply cotton shirt you’ll always look fresh and crisp. Available in White, Blue, or Navy Stripe at $59.50.

Activewear Compression Socks have a cushioned footbed, seamless toe and extra wide knee band. Made of a poly/nylon/cotton/spandex blend that supports your legs with varying degrees of compression from ankle to knee. Perfect for a long time behind the wheel of your car or long haul in the air during which the socks improve circulation, reduce swelling and help prevent blood clots forming in your legs. $34.85.

Crinkle Metro Jacket, a Magellan’s exclusive, will give you a sophisticated look when worn over your dress when you’re out for cocktails. Made of lightweight, breathable rayon/polyester/spandex in Black or Port. $74.50.

Fleece Travel Coat is another Magellan’s exclusive. Its mid-thigh coverage affords greater warmth when the weather turns chilly for the lady. It has a standup collar, two-button front, and two side seam pockets. Stain and wrinkle resistant. $89.50.

All Weather Hat, also a Magellan’s exclusive, is a woman’s favorite as it does double duty: water resistant rain hat and 50+ UPF sun hat. It comes with a fleece lining, a hidden drawstring, and a two and a half-inch brim. Available in Black or Khaki for $45.

Best Of Toy Fair

Adorable Kinders, a line of quality rag dolls, is made by Granza in Winter Springs, Florida. There are as many different soft dolls as letters in the alphabet. Each doll is named for a different letter, such as Alise, Brittany, Christy and so on. The stuffing is made from non-allergenic polyester, stands 18 inches high, and weighs less than two pounds. These are truly soft dolls, without the uncomfortable hard plastic heads and limbs we usually see. Junior PET AnnaRuth is bonding with Natalia, named for the letter "N." The 26 dolls are available for $59.99 each at www.AdorableKinders.com.

The Green Toys brand, based in San Francisco, is an eco friendly and non-toxic brand. Amazingly their children’s toys are made from recycled plastic milk containers. "Green Toys Inc. is a pioneer of the environmental toy movement, and we continue to lead the category with award-winning toys that are considered the industry benchmark," said president and co-founder Robert von Goeben. The Green Toys Dish Set has everything a child needs to serve a pretend meal for four. Made in the USA, as all Green Toys are, the Dish Set meets FDA food contact standards and is dishwasher safe. MSRP $24.99. Green Toys Chef Set contains a classic collection of kitchen essentials for the aspiring gourmet. MSRP $14.99. More information at www.greentoys.com.

Latest Must-Haves

Imation Pro WX is an excellent wireless USB hard drive that will enhance your wireless workspace. With an amazing 1.5TB capacity, you can store 300,000 photos or 750 hours of video. Place this external hard drive up to 30 feet from your wireless USB adapter on your computer and, with a one-touch sync button—wham!—you automatically store your precious files. There’s no driver to install, no cords to plug in. It’s that easy. A gauge tells you how much capacity you have on the drive. With the included Memeo Instant Backup software, your files are backed up securely every time your Imation WX is reconnected. MSRP $449.99. More information at www.imation.com.

TomTom XXL 530S is an amazing tool for your journey on the road. It talks to you to get you from here to there error-free. Just plug it in, follow the menu and you’re good to go. The pre-loaded maps on internal memory of the U.S. and Canada, plus millions of points of interest, will keep you in the right direction to your destination. The extra wide 5-inch touchscreen makes this navigation device perfect for large vehicles. In an emergency, the Help Me! Emergency Menu will access local police, fire and hospitals, so you ride worry free. $279.95.

Among the many must-have items from SimpleHuman, based in Torrance, Calif., are two that caught our eye. The touch-free Sensor Soap Pump will prevent the spread of germs inn the bathroom. Just place your hands under the lid and the LED display lights up to dispense the liquid soap out of the pump. The LED flashes when the battery runs low. $29.99.

For the modern kitchen we found the Slim Canister Set essential. The slim design maximizes countertop space. An airtight seal keeps everything fresh in this stainless steel set. Use the push-button release to remove the inner plastic liner for easy cleaning. $89.99. See more at www.simplehuman.com.

Lowepro Memory Card Wallet is a very handy accessory for your camera bag or use the loop to attach it to your belt. Zip open the wallet and you’ll find six small mesh pockets to store six memory cards. One extra pocket will accommodate four AA batteries or a PC card. As I said, it’s a handy item. $10.99 at www.lowepro.com.

Hahnemuhle, a company in Dassel, Germany, that’s been producing quality paper for writers and artists since 1584, has paper that will appeal to the green in us all. Sugar Cane 300gsm is the newest eco-friendly addition to the Hahnemuhle Digital FineArt line of inkjet papers. 75 percent of the paper is made from bagasse, a tropical byproduct of the sugar cane refining process. Cotton fibers gleaned from recycling the company’s paper mill waste make up the remaining 25 percent. Sugar Cane 300gsm is a natural white, textured fine-art paper that’s resistant to aging.